Pipe coupling



Patented Nov. 24, 1931 swarm v. mums. or m oxnanonza PHI GOUPIJHG- Application filed Iovember, mo. Serial .llo. 40am.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe couplings, and more especially to improvements in couplings of the type em- ,plt iyed with unthreaded pipe ends.-

he primary object of the invention is to provide a novel packingring for use with such couplings. It is well known that in oil and gas p1 lines, the passing fluid frequently attacks t e rubber gaskets of the couplings, and this often results in a leaky joint. It is also known that with couplings of the pressure acking type, the packing ring is liable to he torn or scored when it is laced on the ends of the pipes to be coupl and this results in a recessor groove in the p ring, which is a source of lea Furthermore, in such joints, if there is any expansion or contraction of the pipes, or any dis-alignment of the same, this may result in leakage.

Another ob'ect of this invention is to eliminate such diculties, and'to provide a packing ring having a plurality ofindependent seals at each ed thereof, so that in case one seal is attacke by the gas or oil, or other fluids containing substances which attach the packing ring, another one of the seals will efiectively prevent leakage, and also retain itSxOIl a1 resilienc, because it is gated romthe-attac edseal.

Another ob'ect is to furnish a packing ring sodesigned t at if one seal is scored or mutilated, another independent seal will ate the leakage which might result from suc scoring or mutilation. My ring is of such construction that this statement has been proved in actual practice. V

- It is a still further ,object of the invention to provide afiacking rin having its edges turned inwar y toward and each edge terminating in inwardly extending spaced annular projections designed to grip the outer surface of a pipe al a plurahtg of spaced circumferential tween t ese projections, the ring is grooved in annular form, so that a vacuum chamber will be formed between the'proje'dions and thepipe end, which will not'only tend to maintain the seal andto hold the ends of the e axis of the ring,

pipes together, but will allow the pipes to expand and contract, and to assume positions out of axial alignment with-each other without affecting the seal. The annular web of the ring which joins the edge portions of the ring being thinnerthan the edge rtions, functions as a hinge to allow dis-a 'gnment' of the pipes without breaking such vacuum or afl'ecting the seal. v

a A further object is to furnish a pipe cou- 00 pling which will withstand without leaka shocks such as caused by internal distur ances within the earth: The present coupling will also' 'withstand without leakafi, disturbances due to 'wave motion, where t e pipe line is under water, and can also receive without leakage, shocks caused by vehicles over the pipe line, where such pipe line is aid along the ground surface.

urthermore, the construction is such that the couplin may be assembled and installed by unskille labor, and will (provide an effeotive joint when so assemble and installed. In addition a pipe line can be laid with a considerable saving of time when my cou- 5 plin are interposed therein.

edit the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description p the invention consistsin the novel features hereinafter de- '80 I scribed in detail, illustrated in the -'accompanyin drawings, and more particularly poin out in the a pended claims Y Referring to the rawings,

Fig. 1 is a diametrical preferred form of my packing ring or gasket, shown in comparison with a pair of pipe ends that are illustrated in dot and, dash es.

Fi 2, 3 and 4 are similar views of modified onus of the ring. 1

Fig. 5 is a diametrical sectional view, artly in elevation, ofa pair of pipe ends own a connected by my improved coupling.

Fig. 6.is a transverse sectional view on the knob-'6 of Fig. 5. c I

. 7 is a diametrical sectional view of er modification off, my ackmg' ring, in which spaced cavities or in entations are .used as vacuum chambers instead of The present. coupling-is especially sectional view of a 40 I employ a novel packing with untlireaded pipe ends, for the purpose of disclosing the invention, reference will now be made to Fi '5. In that Figure,

7 and 8 designate rigi metal pipes having cylindrical outer surfaces which are interrupted by annular grooves 9 in theperiph cries of the ipes. These ves cooperate with inward y extending. flanges 10 that are arran 10 are 0 less thickness than the width of the grooves, to allow for expansion and contraction of the pipes. Furthermore, there is a clearance space 12 between the inner surface of each flange, and the bottom of the groove,

15 to allow the pipes'to assume positions out of axial alignment.- Such dis-alignment may 'be caused due to uneven ound surface con: tour, shocks due to vehic es passing over the pipe line, earthquakes, wave motion or the like, depending on where the pipe line is located, and this feature of the invention will take care of such dis-alignment, without liability of leaka e.

The half-co ars 11 form'housing or con.-

26 fining ring. for my packing, which'will be hereinafter described, and while I have illustrated such confining ring as of one construction, I desire it to be unders.ood that many forms of such confining means. may be used 30 without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the form illustrated, each half collar is provided with lateral cars 13 which are joined together by an such as bolts 14. The con g rin formed by the half collars, provides an an ar channel 15 which surrounds the pipe ends, and

preferably has its side walls diverging toward the axis of the pipe line, as indicated at 16.

With such pipe ends and confining ring, or gasket of special design. As shown in t is ring may be made of any suitable flexible material, such as rubber, and includes an annular web 17, the edges '0f'-WlliCh'eX-,

tend inwardly,- as shown at 18, so that an inwardly opening channel 19 is provided in the rin between the edge portions of the'latter. ach edge portion is cut away as at 20, to provide an annular rabbet which will receive a pipe end and facilitate the guiding of the latter intothe channel portion of the 1%1 contra-distinction to packingrings heretofore known, I provide each of the edge portions 18 'of the ring with a plurality of inwardly extending annular projections 21 and 22, which operate independently of each other, and are spaced apartwllifi an annular groove 23. At this point, it be observed that the inner edges of the projections 21 and 22'form o of less diameter than the external diameter of the pipes with which the packing is to be used, so that in placing a pipe end in the packin ring, the construcj tion is such that after t epipe end has been d at the ends of half collars 11, and

suitable means,

igs. :1 and 4 portions, will snuglyengage the surfaces 16 of the confinin ring. Now, if .any substance in the flui should attack the inner projection 22, the latter will prevent the attacking substance from reaching the projection 21,- so that even if the seal provided by the projection 22 should be afiected, the seal provided by the projection 21 will be protected, and consequently, the ring will endure indefinitely. A

Furthermore, owing to the vacuum chamber 24, the edge portion of the packing ring will always be drawn into tight engagement with the periphery of the pipe, an even though the pipe line expands and contracts, or the pipes dis-align, the seal will be maintained. v

It will also be manifest that should-there be a defect in the material of the packing 95 ring, or 'one of the projections should be scored or torn, during installation, another oneof \the projections will always be present'to maintain the joint and prevent leakage. Moreover, the outer surface of a pipe end is frequently rough, pitted or uneven, and by employing a plurality of seals at each edge of the packing ring, danger of leakage from this. source is materially reduced, or practically eliminated. a The vacuum chambers-24 also assist the confining ring in holding the pipe ends together.

' In the'embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, two projections 21 and 22 are provided at each edge of the ring, but of course, a greater number of such-projections may be I employed. For example, as shown in Fig.2, the ring, in addition to the projections 21a' and 22a, may have athird projection 21b, the

- opening formed by the inner edge of which of suitable rubber, that the annular projectlons 21c and22c have suflicient resiliency to permit the ready introduction of the pipe e d into the'ring, even though the-external diameter ofthe pipe is larger than the internal diameter of the edges-of the projections21c and 220.

Instead of using two projections at each edge of the ring of the type shown in Fig. 3, I may employ a greater number of projections 21d, 22d and 23d, asvshown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. -7,-the edge portions of the ring may be provided with single inwardly extending annular projections 50, but

in order that each ofthese rejections may provide a plurality of sea s, and vacuum means, I form in the inner edge of the projection, a multiplicity of cavities or indentations 51, which are preferably in staggered .relation. With aconstruction of this sort,

the cavities 51 will take the place of the groove used for vacuum purposes, and the surface of the inner edge of the projection which is arranged about the mouths of the cavities, will provide a plurality of seals in the same manner as if a plurality of the spaced inwardly extending annular projections was'employed.

In each 'form of the invention, the packing ring, when confined by the ring or cage 11, will withstand extremely high pressures without liability of leakage, and this is insured by employing a plurality of seals at each edge of the packing ring, and a vacuum a resilient packing ring adaptedto be ar ranged. in a housing and to extend over the adjacent extremities of a pair of pipes, said packing ring being provided with annular inwardly extending spaced projections each of said projections provided at its inner edge with aseries of cup-.like 'openings'.. forming vacuum means adapted to grip' the ends of said pipes, the" ends of said ring being provided with annular rabbets forming annular edges normally of larger diameter than the inner edges of the projections which are adapted'to gripthe pipe-ends when the rabbeted portions of the ring are held under compressionby said housing.

'2. Ina structure of the character'described,

a resilient packing r-in adapted to bev a'rranged in a housing an to extend over the adjacent extremities of a pair of pipes, said packing ring beingprovided with annular inwardly extending spacedportions, eachv of said portions having. an annular groove and inwardly extending annular projections at opposite sides of the groove, said projections being adaptedto grip the ends of said pipes,

the ends of said ring being provided with annular rabbets forming annular edges normally of larger diameter than the inner edges of the rejections and adapted to ip the pipe en s, when the ring is compressed by said housing.

3. In a structure of the character described,

pipes arranged end to end, a housing connected to theends of the pipes, a resilient packing ring arranged in the housing and extending over the extremities of the pipes, said packing ring being provided with annular inwardl extending spaced portions adapted to grip the ends of the pipes, each of said portions being provided at'an end of the ring,

with an annular rabbet, the rabbets forming annular edges at the ends of the ring Whic grip the pipe. ends and are held under compression by'the housing, the openings formed by the inner edges of said portions being of less diameter than the external diameter of the pipes when the latter are disconnected.

4. In a structure of the character described,

pipes arranged end to end, a housing joining the endsof the pipes, a resilient packing ring arranged in the housing and extending over the extremities of the pipes, said packing ring being provided with inwardly extending spaced portions, each of said portions having an annular groove and inwardly extending annular projections arranged at opposite sides of the groove, said projections gripping the ends of the pipes, the ends of sald'rmg being provided with annular rabbets forming annular edges at the ends of the ring which grip the ipe ends and are held under compression y' the housing, and the openings formed by the edgesof said pro ections being of less dlameter than the external diameter of the pipes when the latter are disconnected.

STEPHEN V. DILLON; 

